Russian spy: Police appeal over Sergei Skripal’s red BMW

Police investigating the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter have appealed for witnesses who saw the pair’s red BMW car before the attack.

Sergei Skripal, 66, and Yulia, 33, parked the vehicle in Salisbury city centre – less than three hours before they were found slumped on a bench.

It comes as a deadline looms for Moscow to explain how a Russia-made nerve agent was used in the 4 March incident.

Russia’s embassy says any UK measures “will meet with a response”.

It said Moscow “will not respond to London’s ultimatum” until it is given access to samples of the nerve agent used in the attack.

Prime Minister Theresa May had said the UK must “stand ready” to take action against Russia and this would be set out in the Commons on Wednesday should there be no adequate explanation by midnight on Tuesday.

Downing Street said Theresa May spoke by telephone to Donald Trump and the president said the “US was with the UK all the way, agreeing that the Russian government must provide unambiguous answers as to how this nerve agent came to be used”.

Mrs May has also held a telephone conservation with France’s President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who both expressed “solidarity” with the UK ‘s position.

But Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov described claims of state involvement as “rubbish”

Giving an update in the attempted murder investigation, police said former double agent Mr Skripal and his daughter remain critically ill in hospital.

Det Sgt Nick Bailey, who fell ill responding to the incident, is in a serious but stable condition.

Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said 35 other people had been seen in hospital, of whom 34 had been assessed and discharged, while the condition of one person is being monitored as an outpatient.